Search

On this map of Southeast Asia, British colonial territory is highlighted within red borders: the Straits Settlements (Singapore, Malacca and Penang) on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula; and British Burma (Chittagong and Aracan, and Tenasserim).

From ‘Lizars' Edinburgh Geographical General Atlas’, this mid-19th century map was based on an earlier map by the English cartographer John Cary. It highlights the mountain ranges and rivers of Southeast Asia, and also features many place names.

Coloured borders are used on this map to divide mainland Southeast Asia into empires and kingdoms. Mountains, rivers and major settlements are shown in land, with islands, shoals and reefs marked in the South China Sea.

From ‘Thomson’s New General Atlas’, this mid-19th century map was based on an earlier map by the English cartographer John Cary. It highlights the mountain ranges and rivers of Southeast Asia, and also features many place names.

This early 19th century map was based on an earlier map by the English cartographer John Cary. It highlights the mountain ranges and rivers of Southeast Asia, and also features many place names of cities, towns and islands.

An early 19th century map by the English cartographer John Cary, highlighting the mountain ranges and rivers of Southeast Asia. The map also features many place names of cities, towns and islands.

This map of the Sunda Isles (‘Isles de la Sonde’) (with red borders) and Maluku Islands (‘Isles Moluques’) (green borders) also includes mainland Southeast Asia (blue borders), the Philippines (yellow borders) and New Guinea (green borders).

On this map of Asia, borders are outlined and cities underlined in different colours to show the colonial territories of the European powers: e.g. at this time, Benkulen (Bencoolen) on the west coast of Sumatra is British, and Malacca is Dutch.

On this map of Asia, borders are outlined and cities underlined in different colours to show the colonial territories of the European powers: e.g. at this time, Benkulen (Bencoolen) on the west coast of Sumatra is British, and Malacca is Dutch.

Labels on this late 18th century map of Southeast Asia describe two indigenous populations—the ‘Kemoy’ of the mountains along the border of Cochin China (Vietnam) and Camboja (Cambodia), and the ‘Biayos’ of central Borneo—as ‘a wild Nation’.

Coloured borders divide this late 18th century map of Asia into empires, kingdoms and regions. Five major rivers that flow south through mainland Southeast Asia are named: Aua, Pegu, Tenasserim, Menan and Camboya.

This map of the Sunda Isles (‘Isles de la Sonde’) (with red borders) and Maluku Islands (‘Isles Moluques’) (blue borders) also includes mainland Southeast Asia (green borders), the Philippines (yellow borders) and New Guinea (green borders).